Notice2025-14343
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Terminal 4 Expansion and Redevelopment Project at the Port of Grays Harbor, Washington
Primary source
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Published
July 30, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Port of Grays Harbor to incidentally harass marine mammals incidental to the Terminal 4 Expansion and Redevelopment Project at the Port of Grays Harbor, Washington.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 144 (Wednesday, July 30, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 30, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35846-35853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-14343]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF054]
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities;
Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Terminal 4 Expansion and
Redevelopment Project at the Port of Grays Harbor, Washington
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; issuance of renewal incidental harassment
authorization.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given
that NMFS has issued a renewal incidental harassment authorization
(IHA) to the Port of Grays Harbor to incidentally harass marine mammals
incidental to the Terminal 4 Expansion and Redevelopment Project at the
Port of Grays Harbor, Washington.
DATES: This renewal IHA is valid from July 18, 2025 through July 15,
2026.
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the original application, renewal
request, and supporting documents (including NMFS Federal Register
notices of the original proposed and final authorizations, and the
previous IHA), as well as a list of the references cited in this
document, may be obtained online at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act</a>. In case of problems accessing these documents, please call the
contact listed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Pauline, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The MMPA prohibits the ``take'' of marine mammals, with certain
exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361
et seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) to
allow, upon request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of
small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a
specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified
geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations
are promulgated or, if the taking is limited to harassment, an
incidental harassment authorization is issued.
Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds
that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or
stock(s) and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for taking for subsistence uses
(where relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe the permissible methods
of taking and other ``means of effecting the least practicable adverse
impact'' on the affected species or stocks and their habitat, paying
particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar
significance, and on the availability of such species or stocks for
taking for certain subsistence uses (referred to here as ``mitigation
measures''). NMFS must also prescribe requirements pertaining to
monitoring and reporting of such takings. The definition of key terms
such as ``take,'' ``harassment,'' and ``negligible impact'' can be
found in the MMPA and NMFS's implementing regulations (see 16 U.S.C
1362; 50 CFR 216.103).
NMFS' regulations implementing the MMPA at 50 CFR 216.107(e)
indicate that IHAs may be renewed for additional periods of time not to
exceed 1 year for each reauthorization. In the notice of proposed IHA
for the initial IHA, NMFS described the circumstances under which we
would consider issuing a renewal for this activity, and requested
public comment on a potential renewal under those circumstances.
Specifically, on a case-by-case basis, NMFS may issue a one-time 1-year
renewal IHA following notice to the public providing an additional 15
days for public comments when (1) up to another year of identical, or
nearly identical, activities as described in the Detailed Description
of Specified Activities section of the initial IHA issuance notice is
planned or (2) the activities as described in the Description of the
Specified Activities and Anticipated Impacts section of the initial IHA
issuance notice would not be completed by the time the initial IHA
expires and a renewal would allow for completion of the activities
beyond that described in the DATES section of the notice of issuance of
the initial IHA, provided all of the following conditions are met:
1. A request for renewal is received no later than 60 days prior to
the needed renewal IHA effective date (recognizing that the renewal IHA
expiration date cannot extend beyond 1 year from expiration of the
initial IHA).
2. The request for renewal must include the following:
<bullet> An explanation that the activities to be conducted under
the requested renewal IHA are identical to the
[[Page 35847]]
activities analyzed under the initial IHA, are a subset of the
activities, or include changes so minor (e.g., reduction in pile size)
that the changes do not affect the previous analyses, mitigation and
monitoring requirements, or take estimates (with the exception of
reducing the type or amount of take).
<bullet> A preliminary monitoring report showing the results of the
required monitoring to date and an explanation showing that the
monitoring results do not indicate impacts of a scale or nature not
previously analyzed or authorized.
Upon review of the request for renewal, the status of the affected
species or stocks, and any other pertinent information, NMFS determines
that there are no more than minor changes in the activities, the
mitigation and monitoring measures will remain the same and
appropriate, and the findings in the initial IHA remain valid.
An additional public comment period of 15 days (for a total of 45
days), with direct notice by email, phone, or postal service to
commenters on the initial IHA, is provided to allow for any additional
comments on the proposed renewal. A description of the renewal process
may be found on our website at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-harassment-authorization-renewals">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-harassment-authorization-renewals</a>.
History of Request
On June 6, 2024, NMFS issued an IHA to the Port to take marine
mammals incidental to the Terminal 4 Expansion and Redevelopment
Project at the Port of Grays Harbor, Washington (90 FR 28725, July 1,
2025), effective from July 16, 2024 through July 15, 2025. On April 16,
2025, NMFS received an application for the renewal of that initial IHA.
As described in the application for renewal, the activities for which
incidental take is requested are consistent with activities that are
covered by the initial authorization but will not be completed prior to
its expiration. As required, the applicant also provided a preliminary
monitoring report (available at <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-ag-processing-incs-port-grays-harbor-terminal-4-expansion-and">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-ag-processing-incs-port-grays-harbor-terminal-4-expansion-and</a>) which confirms that the applicant has
implemented the required mitigation and monitoring, and which also
shows that no impacts of a scale or nature not previously analyzed or
authorized have occurred as a result of the activities conducted. The
notice of the proposed renewal incidental harassment authorization was
published on July 1, 2025 (90 FR 28725).
Description of the Specified Activities and Anticipated Impacts
The purpose of the project is to construct a new export facility at
Terminal 4 (T4). The activity includes removal of existing piles and
the installation of both temporary and permanent piles of various
sizes. Takes of marine mammals by Level A and Level B harassment are
expected to occur as a result of noise produced by both impact and
vibratory pile driving and vibratory removal. The initial IHA
authorized take incidental to in-water construction activities
associated with the installation of a new fendering system at Terminal
4A and the installation of a new commodity export facility at Terminal
4B. Ag Processing Inc. has completed the in-water construction
activities for the new commodity export facility at Terminal 4B.
However, a 1-year renewal of the initial IHA is needed to complete the
in-water construction activities associated with the new fendering
system at Terminal 4A.
Detailed Description of the Activity
A detailed description of the demolition and construction
activities for which take is authorized may be found in the Notices of
the Proposed (89 FR 24436, April 8, 2024) and Final (89 FR 48565, June
7, 2024) IHAs for the initial authorization. The location, timing, and
nature of the activities, including the types of equipment planned for
use, are similar to those described in the previous notices. The
renewal IHA is effective for a period not exceeding 1 year from the
date of expiration of the initial IHA (July 15, 2025).
The initial IHA authorized take incidental to the in-water pile
driving/removal activities shown in tables 1 and 2. The activities in
table 1 will be completed under this renewal IHA and the activities in
table 2 were completed under the initial IHA. The previously planned
impact proofing of 24-inch (60.96 centimeter (cm)) steel pipe piles was
not required at Terminal 4B. Since the impact proofing of 24-inch
(60.96 cm) steel pipe piles planned for the Terminal 4B commodity
export facility portion of the Project was not required, the Port plans
to conduct similar impact proofing for the fendering system
construction at Terminal 4A under the renewal IHA. With the exception
of impact proofing for the new fendering system, there are no new
activities or modifications from the originally proposed actions. Pile
removal and installation activities will occur during the in-water work
window (July 16 through February 15). The most conservative estimate of
time required to complete pile installation and removal activities
under this renewal is 36 days of intermittent vibratory pile driving/
removal and an additional 8 days of impact proofing. The renewal IHA
will be effective for a period not exceeding 1 year from the date of
expiration of the initial IHA.
Table 1--In-Water Pile Removal and Installation Activities Under the Renewal IHA for the Terminal 4A New Fendering System
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Removal/
Pile type and size Activity installation Number of piles Total days of Piles per day Hours vibratory Impact strikes
method operation per day per day
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18-inch (45.72 cm) timber Removal......... Vibratory Up to 50........ Up to 12........ Up to 10....... Up to 5.0......
piles. hammer, direct
pull.
18-inch (45.72 cm) steel pipe Installation.... Vibratory hammer Up to 15........ Up to 6......... Up to 6........ Up to 3.0......
pile.
24-to-30-inch (60.96-76.2 cm) Installation.... Vibratory hammer Up to 24........ Up to 18........ Up to 6........ Up to 6.0......
steel pipe pile.
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel pipe Installation.... Impact proof.... Up to 24........ Up to 8......... Up to 4........ ............... 2,000
pile.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 35848]]
Table 2--In-Water Pile Removal and Installation Completed for New AGP Commodity Export Facility at Terminal 4B Under the Initial IHA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Impact
Pile type and size Activity Installation/ Number of piles Total days of Piles per day Hours vibratory strikes per
removal method operation per day day
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-inch (30.48 cm) steel H Removal.......... Vibratory hammer Up to 6......... Up to 3......... Up to 3......... Up to 1.5.......
sections. or direct pull.
16.5-inch (41.91 cm) concrete Removal.......... Vibratory Up to 27........ Up to 9......... Up to 8......... Up to 8.........
octagonal pile. hammer, direct
pull.
36-inch (91.44 cm) steel pipe Installation..... Vibratory....... Up to 50........ Up to 24........ Up to 4......... Up to 8.........
pile.
................. * Impact proof.. ................ Up to 6......... ................ Up to 2,400.....
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel pipe Installation..... Vibratory and Up to 24........ Up to 10........ Up to 4......... Up to 6.........
pile. impact hammer.
................. * Impact proof.. ................ Up to 2......... ................ ................ Up to
2,000.
12-inch (30.48 cm) steel H- Installation..... Vibratory hammer Up to 6......... Up to 3......... Up to 3......... Up to 1.5.
piles.
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel pipe Installation..... Vibratory hammer Up to 24........ Up to 6......... Up to 8......... Up to 4.........
pile.
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel pipe Removal.......... Vibratory hammer Up to 24........ Up to 6......... Up to 8......... Up to 4.........
pile.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The planned impact proofing of 36-in and 24-in steel pipe pile was not required. Impact proofing of 24-inch steel piles has been added to work under
the renewal IHA and has been applied to pile installation activities in table 1.
Description of Marine Mammals
A description of the marine mammals in the area of the activities
for which take has been authorized, including information on abundance,
status, distribution, and hearing, may be found in the Notices of the
Proposed IHA for the initial authorization (89 FR 24436, April 8,
2024). NMFS has reviewed the monitoring data from the initial IHA,
recent draft Stock Assessment Reports, information on relevant Unusual
Mortality Events, and other scientific literature, and determined there
is no new information that affects which species or stocks have the
potential to be affected or the pertinent information in the
Description of the Marine Mammals in the Area of Specified Activities
contained in the supporting documents for the initial IHA (89 FR 24436,
April 8, 2024). Note that the abundance estimate for the Oregon/
Washington coastal stock of harbor seal has been updated to 22,549 from
24,731 animals based on more recent best available information (Pearson
et al. 2024), but this does not impact estimated take numbers under the
renewal IHA or influence the findings made in support of the initial
IHA.
Potential Effects on Marine Mammals and their Habitat
A description of the potential effects of the specified activity on
marine mammals and their habitat for the activities for which
incidental take is authorized here may be found in the notices of the
proposed IHA for the initial authorization (89 FR 24436, April 8,
2024). NMFS has reviewed the monitoring data from the initial IHA,
recent draft Stock Assessment Reports, information on relevant Unusual
Mortality Events, and other scientific literature, and determined that
there is no new information that affects our initial analysis of
impacts on marine mammals and their habitat.
Estimated Take
A detailed description of the methods used to estimate take for the
specified activity are found in the notices of the proposed and final
IHAs for the initial authorization (89 FR 24436, April 8, 2024; 89 FR
48565, June 7, 2024). Specifically, the action area and marine mammal
density and occurrence data applicable to this authorization remain
unchanged from the initial and modified IHA. Similarly, source levels,
type of activity, methods of take, and types of take remain unchanged
from the initial IHA. However, there are changes to the estimated Level
A harassment zones based on the 2024 Updated Technical Guidance,
further discussed below. The estimated number of authorized takes is
based on the subset of activities to be completed under this renewal
IHA and, therefore, represents a proportion of the initial authorized
takes. These takes reflect the estimated remaining number of days of
work and number of piles to be driven. Estimated take by Level A and
Level B harassment for the renewal IHA was calculated using the same
methodology as in the initial proposed and final IHAs (89 FR 24436,
April 8, 2024; 89 FR 48565, June 7, 2024).
On October 24, 2024 NMFS published (89 FR 84872) its final Updated
Technical Guidance (<a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-acoustic-technical-guidance-other-acoustic-tools">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-acoustic-technical-guidance-other-acoustic-tools</a>) which includes updated thresholds and weighting
functions to inform auditory injury estimates and is replacing the 2018
Technical Guidance referenced in the notices of the proposed and final
IHAs for the initial authorization (89 FR 24436, April 8, 2024; 89 FR
48565, June 7, 2024). In consideration of the best available science,
NMFS conducted calculations using the Updated Technical Guidance and
NMFS optional user spreadsheet, using the source levels and spreadsheet
inputs provided in the notices for the proposed and final IHAs (89 FR
24436, April 8, 2024; 89 FR 48565, June 7, 2024), for the purpose of
understanding how Level A harassment (auditory injury) zones might
change from the initial IHA. The updated marine mammal hearing groups
and updated thresholds can be found in tables 3 and 4.
Table 3--Marine Mammal Hearing Groups
[NMFS, 2024]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hearing group Generalized hearing range *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low-frequency (LF) cetaceans (baleen 7 Hz to 36 kHz.
whales).
High-frequency (HF) cetaceans (dolphins, 150 Hz to 160 kHz.
toothed whales, beaked whales, bottlenose
whales).
Very High-frequency (VHF) cetaceans (true 200 Hz to 165 kHz.
porpoises, Kogia, river dolphins,
Cephalorhynchid, Lagenorhynchus cruciger &
L. australis).
Phocid pinnipeds (PW) (underwater) (true 40 Hz to 90 kHz.
seals).
[[Page 35849]]
Otariid pinnipeds (OW) (underwater) (sea 60 Hz to 68 kHz.
lions and fur seals).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Represents the generalized hearing range for the entire group as a
composite (i.e., all species within the group), where individual
species' hearing ranges may not be as broad. Generalized hearing range
chosen based on ~65-dB threshold from composite audiogram, previous
analysis in NMFS, 2018, and/or data from Southall et al., 2007;
Southall et al., 2019. Additionally, animals are able to detect very
loud sounds above and below that ``generalized'' hearing range. Hz =
Hertz. kHz = kilohertz.
Table 4--Onset of Auditory Injury (AUD INJ) (NMFS, 2024)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AUD INJ Onset Thresholds * (received level)
Hearing group ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Impulsive Non-impulsive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Low-Frequency (LF) Cetaceans........... Cell 1: L,0-pk,flat: 222 Cell 2: LE,,LF,24h: 197 dB.
dB; LE,,LF,24h: 183 dB.
High-Frequency (HF) Cetaceans.......... Cell 3: L,0-pk,flat: 230 Cell 4: LE,,HF,24h: 201 dB.
dB; LE,,HF,24h: 193 dB.
Very High-Frequency (VHF) Cetaceans.... Cell 5: L,0-pk,flat: 202 Cell 6: LE,,VHF,24h: 181 dB.
dB; LE,,VHF,24h: 159 dB.
Phocid Pinnipeds (PW).................. Cell 7: L,0-pk.flat: 223 Cell 8: LE,,PW,24h: 195 dB.
(Underwater)........................... dB; LE,,PW,24h: 183 dB.
Otariid Pinnipeds (OW)................. Cell 9: L,0-pk,flat: 230 Cell 10: LE,,OW,24h: 199 dB.
(Underwater)........................... dB; LE,,OW,24h: 185 dB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Dual metric thresholds for impulsive sounds: Use whichever results in the largest isopleth for calculating AUD
INJ onset. If a non-impulsive sound has the potential of exceeding the peak sound pressure level thresholds
associated with impulsive sounds, these thresholds are recommended for consideration.
Note: Peak sound pressure level (L,0-pk) has a reference value of 1 [mu]Pa, and weighted cumulative sound
exposure level (LE,) has a reference value of 1[mu]Pa\2\s. In this table, thresholds are abbreviated to be
more reflective of International Organization for Standardization standards (ISO, 2017). The subscript
``flat'' is being included to indicate peak sound pressure are flat weighted or unweighted within the
generalized hearing range of marine mammals (i.e., 7 Hz to 165 kHz). The subscript associated with cumulative
sound exposure level thresholds indicates the designated marine mammal auditory weighting function (LF, HF,
and VHF cetaceans, and PW and OW pinnipeds) and that the recommended accumulation period is 24 hours. The
weighted cumulative sound exposure level thresholds could be exceeded in a multitude of ways (i.e., varying
exposure levels and durations, duty cycle). When possible, it is valuable for action proponents to indicate
the conditions under which these thresholds will be exceeded.
The inputs contained in the 2018 Technical Guidance user
spreadsheet for the initial IHA are identical to those utilized in the
2024 Technical Guidance user spreadsheet. However, the estimated Level
A harassment isopleths have increased in some cases when the updated
2024 Technical Guidance is used as shown in table 5. The Port changed
the shutdown zones accordingly and consistent with the intent of the
measures prescribed through the initial IHA, as discussed in
Description of Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Measures section.
Table 5--Level A Harassment Isopleths Using 2024 Updated Technical Guidance and 2018 Technical Guidance (Meters)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harbor seal Sea lion Harbor porpoise
Pile type and size Activity Removal/installation -----------------------------------------------------------------
method 2024 2018 2024 2018 2024 2018
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 18-inch (45.72 cm) timber Removal................ Vibratory hammer....... 41 15 14 1 26 35
piles.
Up to 18-inch (45.72 cm) steel pipe Installation........... Vibratory hammer....... 16 6 5 1 10 13
pile.
24-to-30-inch (60.96-76.2 cm) steel Installation........... Vibratory hammer....... 29 10 10 1 18 25
pipe pile.
Up to 24-inch (60.96 cm) steel pipe Installation........... Impact Proof........... 259 157 97 12 452 349
pile.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A detailed description of the methods and inputs used to estimate
take for the specified activity are found in the Notices of the
Proposed and/or Final IHAs (89 FR 24436, April 8, 2024; 89 FR 48565,
June 7, 2024) for the initial authorization. Specifically, the source
levels, days of operation, and marine mammal density/occurrence data
applicable to this authorization remain unchanged from the previously
issued IHA. The sizes of the estimated Level A harassment zones have
changed in some cases as shown in table 5 and these are reflected in
tables 6 through 11. The stocks taken, methods of take, and types of
take remain unchanged from the previously issued IHA. The estimated
number of takes for the renewal IHA was calculated by adding the
individual takes associated with each of the activities listed in table
5. Tables 6-11 show calculated take numbers by Level A (where
authorized) and Level B harassment.
[[Page 35850]]
Table 6--Calculated Take of Harbor Porpoise by Level B Harassment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harbor
porpoise Days of pile Level B area Shutdown area Level B take
Pile type density per driving (km\2\) (km\2\) estimate
km\2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24-to-30-inch (60.96-76.2 cm) 0.467 18 4.95 0.023 41.42
steel pipe piles--vibratory
(installation).................
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel piles, 0.467 8 0.46 0.05 1.53
permanent--impact
(installation).................
18-inch (45.72 cm) steel pipe 0.467 6 4.3 0.014 12.01
piles (installation) vibratory.
18-inch (45.72 cm) creosote 0.467 12 7.4 0.034 41.28
timber piles--Vibratory
(removal)......................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 96.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 7--Calculated Take of Harbor Porpoise by Level A Harassment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harbor
porpoise Days of pile Level A area Shutdown area Level A take
Pile type density per driving (km\2\) (km\2\) estimate
km\2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24-to-30-inch (60.96-76.2 cm) 0.467 18 0.008 0.023 0.00
steel pipe piles--vibratory
(installation).................
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel piles, 0.467 8 0.44 0.047 1.47
permanent--impact
(installation).................
18-inch (45.72 cm) steel pipe 0.467 6 0.009 0.014 0.00
piles (installation) vibratory.
18-inch (45.72 cm) creosote 0.467 12 0.025 0.034 0.00
timber piles--Vibratory
(removal)......................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total........................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 1.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Port requested and NMFS has authorized 2 Level A harassment and
94 Level B harassment takes of harbor porpoise.
Table 8--Calculated Take of Steller Sea Lion by Level B Harassment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stellar Sea
Pile type lion density Days of pile Level B area Shutdown area Level B take
per km\2\ driving (km\2\) (km\2\) estimate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24-to-30-inch (60.96-76.2 cm) 0.1993 18 4.95 0.009 17.73
steel pipe piles--vibratory
(installation).................
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel piles, 0.1993 8 0.46 0.047 0.66
permanent--impact
(installation).................
18-inch (45.72 cm) steel pipe 0.1993 6 4.3 0.009 5.13
piles (installation) vibratory.
18-inch (45.72 cm) creosote 0.1993 12 7.4 0.009 17.68
timber piles--Vibratory
(removal)......................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 41.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Port requested and NMFS has authorized 42 takes of Steller sea
lion by Level B harassment. No take by Level A harassment is
anticipated or authorized.
Table 9--Calculated Take of California Sea Lion by Level B Harassment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
California
sea lion Days of pile Level B area Shutdown area Level B take
Pile type density per driving (km\2\) (km\2\) estimate
km\2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24-to-30-inch (60.96-76.2 cm) 0.6493 18 4.95 0.009 57.75
steel pipe piles--vibratory
(installation).................
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel piles, 0.6493 8 0.46 0.047 2.15
permanent--impact
(installation).................
18-inch (45.72 cm) steel pipe 0.6493 6 4.3 0.009 16.72
piles (installation) vibratory.
18-inch (45.72 cm) creosote 0.6493 12 7.4 0.009 57.59
timber piles--Vibratory
(removal)......................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 35851]]
Total....................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 134.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Port requested and NMFS has authorized 134 takes of California
sea lion by Level B harassment. No take by Level A harassment is
anticipated or authorized.
Table 10--Calculated Take of Harbor Seal by Level B Harassment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harbor seal
Pile type density per Days of pile Level B area Shutdown area Level B take
km\2\ driving (km\2\) (km\2\) estimate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24-to-30-inch (60.96-76.2 cm) 30.8 18 4.95 0.009 2,739.29
steel pipe piles--vibratory
(installation).................
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel piles, 30.85 8 0.46 0.05 101.19
permanent--impact
(installation).................
18-inch (45.72 cm) steel pipe 30.85 6 4.3 0.009 794.26
piles (installation) vibratory.
18-inch (45.72 cm) creosote 30.85 12 7.4 0.014 2,734.30
timber piles--Vibratory
(removal)......................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 6,369.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 11--Calculated Take of Harbor Seal by Level A Harassment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harbor seal
Pile type density per Days of pile Level A area Shutdown area Level A take
km\2\ driving (km\2\) (km\2\) estimate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24-to-30-inch (60.96-76.2 cm) 30.85 18 0.013 0.009 2.22
steel pipe piles--vibratory
(installation).................
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel piles, 30.85 8 0.174 0.05 30.60
permanent--impact
(installation).................
18-inch (45.72 cm) steel pipe 30.85 6 0.015 0.009 1.11
piles (installation) vibratory.
18-inch (45.72 cm) creosote 30.85 12 0.041 0.014 10.00
timber piles--Vibratory
(removal)......................
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................... .............. .............. .............. .............. 43.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Port requested and NMFS has authorized 44 Level A harassment
takes and 6,325 Level B harassment takes of harbor seal.
The total number of takes authorized under the renewal IHA for all
species by Level A and Level B harassment as well as the percentage of
each stock are shown in table 12.
Table 12--Summary of Marine Mammal Takes by Species and Percentage of Stock Taken
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level A Level B Stock Percent of
Common name Scientific name Stock harassment harassment abundance stock (%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harbor porpoise.......................... Phocoena phocoena.......... Northern.................... 2 94 22,074 <0.01
Oregon/Washington Coast.....
Steller sea lion......................... Eumetopias jubatus......... Eastern U.S................. ........... 42 36,308 <0.01
California sea lion...................... Zalophus californianus..... U.S......................... ........... 135 257,606 <0.01
Harbor seal.............................. Phoca vitulina............. OR/WA coast stock........... 44 6,325 * 22,549 28.2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* This is likely an underestimate of total abundance since it only includes data for the Washington portion of the Oregon-Washington Coastal Stock
(Pearson et al., 2024).
[[Page 35852]]
Description of Mitigation, Monitoring and Reporting Measures
The mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures included as
requirements in this renewal IHA are similar to those included in the
Federal Register notice announcing the issuance of the initial IHA (89
FR 48565, June 7, 2024), and the discussion of the least practicable
adverse impact included in that document and the Notice of the Proposed
IHA (89 FR 24436, April 8, 2024) remain accurate. The following
measures are planned for this renewal:
<bullet> The Port must employ NMFS-approved protected Species
Observers (PSOs) and establish monitoring locations to the maximum
extent possible based on the required number of PSOs, required
monitoring locations, and environmental conditions;
<bullet> Monitoring must take place from 30 minutes prior to
initiation of pile driving activity (i.e., pre-start clearance
monitoring) through 30 minutes post-completion of pile driving
activity;
<bullet> Pre-start clearance monitoring must be conducted during
periods of visibility sufficient for the lead PSO to determine that the
shutdown zones are clear of marine mammals;
<bullet> If a marine mammal is observed entering or within the
shutdown zones pile driving activity must be delayed or halted;
<bullet> If pile driving is delayed or halted due to the presence
of a marine mammal, the activity may not commence or resume until
either the animal has voluntarily exited and been visually confirmed
beyond the shutdown;
<bullet> Soft start techniques must be used when impact pile
driving;
<bullet> A bubble curtain must be used during impact pile driving;
<bullet> Pile driving activity must be halted upon observation of
either a species for which incidental take is not authorized or a
species for which incidental take has been authorized but the
authorized number of takes has been met, entering or within the
harassment zone;
<bullet> The Port must shut down construction operations if a
marine mammal comes within 10 m of construction activity to avoid
direct physical interaction with marine mammals;
<bullet> The Port must submit a draft marine mammal monitoring
report to NMFS within 90 days after the completion of pile driving
activities or 60 calendar days prior to the requested issuance of any
subsequent IHA for construction activity at the same location,
whichever comes first. A final report must be prepared and submitted
within 30 calendar days following receipt of any NMFS comments on the
draft report; and
<bullet> All injured or dead marine mammals must be reported to the
Office of Protected Resources and to the West Coast regional stranding
network.
Consistent with the mitigation required through the initial IHA,
shutdown zones under the renewal IHA are based on the largest Level A
harassment zone for each pile size/type and driving method, as updated
using the draft 2024 Technical Guidance rather than the 2018 Technical
Guidance. These zones are shown in table 13.
Table 13--Shutdown and Monitoring Zones (Meters)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shutdown zone
------------------------------------------------
Pile type Very high- Monitoring
frequency Phocid Otariid zone
cetaceans * pinnipeds pinnipeds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Impact
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24-inch (60.96 cm) steel piles, permanent 100 100 ** 100 (10) 465
(installation).................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vibratory
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24-to-30-inch (60.96-76.2 cm) steel pipe piles 25 10 10 3,985
(installation).................................
18-inch (45.72 cm) steel pipe piles 15 10 10 3,415
(installation).................................
18-inch (45.72 cm) creosote timber piles 35 15 ** 15 (10) 6,310
(removal)......................................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* In the 2018 guidance and initial IHA, VHF cetaceans were referred to as HF (high-frequency) cetaceans.
** Represents change from Initial 2024-2025 IHA. Initial zones in parentheses.
The monitoring zones in the renewal IHA are identical to those
found in the initial proposed and final IHAs (89 FR 24436, April 8,
2024; 89 FR 48565, June 7, 2024). Most of the Level A harassment zones
remain unchanged from the initial proposed and final IHAs. However, the
Level A harassment zone for Otariids during impact installation of 24-
inch (60.96 cm) steel piles increased from 12 m to 97 m so the shutdown
zone was increased to 100 m. Vibratory removal of 18-in creosote timber
piles for Otariids increased from 1 m to 14 m so the shutdown zone was
increased to 15 m from the previous 10 m minimum.
Comments and Responses
A notice of NMFS' proposal to issue a renewal IHA to the Port was
published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2025 (90 FR 28725FR). That
notice either described, or referenced descriptions of, the Port's
activity, the marine mammal species that may be affected by the
activity, the anticipated effects on marine mammals and their habitat,
estimated amount and manner of take, and proposed mitigation,
monitoring and reporting measures. NMFS received no public comments.
Determinations
The Port's action requires the completion of a subset of pile
driving activities that were not completed under the initial IHA. Work
at Terminal 4B has been completed while work at Terminal 4A has yet to
begin. The method of taking and effects of the work on Terminal 4A were
analyzed in the initial IHA along with Terminal B. Work on both
terminals was expected to take 105 days under the initial IHA. The Port
estimates that only 44 days of work remain under the renewal IHA. The
take estimate for the renewal IHA is based on the activities planned to
occur during these remaining days. The renewal take numbers represent a
subset of the total take authorized under the initial IHA. In analyzing
the effects of the activities for the initial IHA, NMFS determined that
the Port's activities would have a negligible impact on the affected
species or stocks and that authorized take numbers of each species or
stock were
[[Page 35853]]
small relative to the relevant stocks (e.g., less than one-third the
abundance of all stocks). The mitigation measures and monitoring and
reporting requirements as described above are substantially similar to
those required through the initial IHA, although some shutdown zones
for Otariids have undergone slight revisions due to the Updated 2024
Technical Guidance. The abundance of a single species (OR/WA coast
stock of harbor seals) has also changed since the initial IHA, but none
of this new information affects NMFS' determinations supporting
issuance of the initial IHA. The piles planned to be driven in the
subset of work and any minor changes described above do not affect the
least practicable adverse impact determinations.
NMFS has concluded that there is no new information suggesting that
our analysis or findings should change from those reached for the
initial IHA. Based on the information and analysis contained here and
in the referenced documents, NMFS has determined the following: (1) the
required mitigation measures will effect the least practicable impact
on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat; (2) the
authorized takes will have a negligible impact on the affected marine
mammal species or stocks; (3) the authorized takes represent small
numbers of marine mammals relative to the affected stock abundances;
(4) the Port's activities will not have an unmitigable adverse impact
on taking for subsistence purposes as no relevant subsistence uses of
marine mammals are implicated by this action, and; (5) appropriate
monitoring and reporting requirements are included.
National Environmental Policy Act
To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA;
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6A,
NMFS must review our proposed action (i.e., the issuance of a renewal
IHA) with respect to potential impacts on the human environment.
This action is consistent with categories of activities identified
in Categorical Exclusion B4 (incidental take authorizations with no
anticipated serious injury or mortality) of the Companion Manual for
NOAA Administrative Order 216-6A, which do not individually or
cumulatively have the potential for significant impacts on the quality
of the human environment and for which we have not identified any
extraordinary circumstances that would preclude this categorical
exclusion. Accordingly, NMFS determined that the issuance of the
initial IHA qualified to be categorically excluded from further NEPA
review. NMFS has determined that the application of this categorical
exclusion remains appropriate for this renewal IHA.
Endangered Species Act
Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA: 16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal agency ensure that any
action it authorizes, funds, or carries out is not likely to jeopardize
the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species or
result in the destruction or adverse modification of designated
critical habitat. To ensure ESA compliance for the issuance of IHAs,
NMFS consults internally whenever we propose to authorize take for
endangered or threatened species.
No incidental take of ESA-listed species is authorized or expected
to result from this activity. Therefore, NMFS has determined that
formal consultation under section 7 of the ESA is not required.
Renewal
NMFS has issued a renewal IHA to the Port of Grays Harbor for the
take of marine mammals incidental to conducting construction activities
as part of the T4 Expansion and Redevelopment Project at the Port of
Grays Harbor, Washington from the date of issuance through July 15,
2026.
Dated: July 25, 2025.
Kimberly Damon-Randall,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-14343 Filed 7-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 30, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.